Indian Film Institute partners with FCC South Asia to launch Film Club

New Delhi: The Indian Film Institute is partnering with the Film Correspondents'Club of South Asia (FCC South Asia), New Delhi to host weekly screenings of world famous film classics. This was officially announced by Mr S Venkat Narayan, President of FCC just ahead of the screening of Victor Banerjee’s latest film, 'The Answer'.

The Indian Film Institute which has a library of over a 1000 such titles will begin the program with Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves (1948) on Saturday 15 September. This was the film which inspired Satyajit Ray to become a filmmaker after he had watched it in London. One of the world’s foremost loved films, Bicycle Thieves is best known example of Italian neo-realism. De Sica also cast non actors in pivotal roles to lend authenticity to the script.

Mr Narayan in his introductory remarks at the event said, “Today is the beginning of the launch of our weekly program to show a great classic every Saturday evening. We are partnering with the Indian Film Institute. The following Saturday we will be screening Bicycle Thieves – rated as one of the 10 greatest films ever made. After that, you will get to see films which you normally wouldn’t get to see in a theatre – films made by Ray, Ingmar Bergman, Fellini, Francois Truffaut, Jean Renoir – you name it. The idea is to make this a space not just where politicians come and address press conferences but also to create a cultural and intellectual atmosphere.”

On his part, Chairman, Indian Film Institute, Manoj Srivastava said: “I am happy that one more ‘Center for appreciation of the cinematic art’, a new opportunity for Delhiites and friends in the media has opened up. I am sure this would soon turn into a favorite joint where cinema is served and consumed passionately.”

The screenings will be open to members of Foreign Correspondents Club every Saturday.